Pages

Monday, November 30, 2015

A Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell – the world’s first commercially available hydrogen-powered car – has completed a 50-day driving challenge in London that covers all the routes included in the famous Knowledge that London black cab drivers have to know before obtaining their license.

The car drove, photographed and filmed every central London street, covering a total of 2092 miles, emitting nothing but water.

The car was fitted with special equipment and bespoke software that enabled it to capture 503,919 images, which have been used to create a 6m x 2m mosaic, a digital continuous image of all London’s streets, that depicts Oxford Street (voted as the most iconic street in London) and will go on display at City Hall in March 2016, as part of London’s Hydrogen Week.

A 200.5 second time-lapse video (marking the launch of Hyundai Motor UK in 2005) was also created.

The drive was mapped by the Ordnance Survey team that delivered the Olympic torch route, the first time the famous Knowledge has ever been routed as one continuous drive to cover every street.

A total of 127 drivers participated in the challenge including British Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams, reality TV star Jamie Laing from Made In Chelsea, WRC driver and co-driver Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul – and us at the Daily Express Motoring desk.

Despite the futuristic technology and use of hydrogen – the chemical energy from which is converted by the fuel cell into electrical energy – the ix35 Fuel Cell drove just like a conventional petrol or diesel version of the Hyundai crossover.

Apart from the fact that it is, like an electric vehicle, almost totally silent when in operation.

The ix35 Fuel Cell has 134bhp electric motor that allows it reach a top speed of 100mph.

Two hydrogen storage tanks, with a total capacity of 5.64kg, enable the vehicle to travel a total of up to 369 miles on a single fill, making it a practical green alternative to conventionally fueled cars.

Or at least it would be if there were more than the current four filling stations open to the public in the UK (at Heathrow, Hendon, Swindon and Teddington).

But our experience of driving the car around the streets of south-west London was completely positive: silent, safe, pollution-free and with almost no need to adapt your driving style.

Is hydrogen the future?

Perhaps, if someone invests in a refueling infrastructure.

It would certainly help improve London’s air quality – especially if those Knowledgeable London cabbies drive hydrogen-powered black cabs.

Chennai, Nov 26 (IANS): South Korean Hyundai Motor Company's Indian subsidiary on Thursday said it has achieved the milestone of selling four million cars in the country.

"Hyundai today is a 10-product strong brand with class leading products ranging from Eon to Santa Fe.
Hyundai has since inception focused on 'Make in India' products, made
for the world," Y.K. Koo, managing director, was quoted as saying in the
statement issued by Hyundai Motor India.

"Hyundai is the largest
exporter and largest premium car manufacturer in India, catering to the
growing needs and demands of the aspirational Indian customer. Hyundai
has witnessed success as the fastest growing sales milestone and we
assure our commitment to the Indian car market," he added.

Nineteen
years ago when most multinational car companies were focusing on the
mid-segment car market, Hyundai took on market leader Maruti Suzuki with
its small car Santro.

Santro was India's first "tall boy" design car that rode into the new car buyers' market.

The South Korean company also made India its major car sourcing point for its global market.

For quite sometime, nearly 50 percent of the production from the Indian plant located near here was shipped out.

The
firm currently exports to around 85 countries across Africa, Middle
East, Latin America, Australia and the Asia Pacific. Hyundai Motor India
has been the country's number one exporter for 10 consecutive years.

Over
the years, Hyundai Motor India also expanded its distribution network
and production capacity to over 600,000 units per annum.

The
company currently has 433 dealers and more than 1,100 service points
across India. Hyundai has a modern multi-million dollar research and
development facility in Hyderabad.

For a long time, the company
faced labor problems. It was in recent times that issues were resolved
amicably with peace prevailing at the company factory.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Unexciting but practical. Solid transportation that gets you from point A to point B. Those are the damn-with-faint-praise platitudes that some auto enthusiasts use to dismiss vehicles like the Hyundai Tucson. But many consumers don’t want—let alone need—the ‘wow’ factor. They seek a competent, workmanlike ride and a headache-free ownership experience. That everyday reassurance is what made Toyota the powerhouse that it is. Now Hyundai is trying on those same sensible shoes.

Although the exterior design of the Tucson hints at flash, the rest of this compact SUV is as generic as store-brand soda. But basic doesn’t mean bad. The Tucson’s 2016 redesign lifts it from a perennial also-ran right up to the forefront. It’s a centerfold for sensibility.

Two powertrains are available: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic transmission that comes only on the base SE trim and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic on the three uplevel trims. It might seem odd that more expensive versions get a smaller engine, but this is the new world order, with small turbo offerings usually the more satisfying alternative.

In terms of engine performance, the base Tucson SE is saddled with a poky 11-second 0-to-60 time as well as an underwhelming 24 mpg overall that’s matched by other, quicker competitors. Its shifting is often stiff, especially at wide-open throttle, which you’ll often use to get any exertion from the engine.

The Sport is quicker than the SE yet gets better mileage, tying the segment-leading Subaru Forester at 26 mpg overall. Its dual-clutch transmission quickly delivers thrust to the wheels, but it has a jarring wait-and-snap routine if you perform a rolling “California stop.” First you’re dead in the water while the clutches sort themselves out, then the turbo eventually spools up and bashes you with an angry shift from first to second gear.

Handling is responsive, nimble, and secure, with only subtle differences between the base SE and uplevel Sport models. In fact, in some ways the SE was sportier than the Sport despite its narrower 17-inch tires, particularly in at-the-limit handling on our test track. The Tucson’s ride is settled, and it absorbs most bumps and ruts—a big deal in a class where most entrants are jittery and uncomfortable. Braking is excellent.

The Tucson feels especially roomy and spacious for a compact SUV, with an open and airy cabin that offers easy access and a family-friendly rear seat. Head and knee room are generous; even short drivers can sit up high with a good view out the front. The interior is one of the quietest in this typically not-so-hushed category.

The seats are sufficient for urban romps, although there were some complaints about bottom cushioning needing more support on longer trips. The cargo area can swallow three large suitcases; a cargo cover costs extra.

In an era when infotainment systems are becoming inscrutable, the Tucson’s controls are a model of simplicity. The cabin trim is rudimentary but neat. All of the door-panel plastics are hard; the dashboard has some soft-touch material, but much of it is far away beneath the windshield, where no one will ever touch it. Components fit together well, with minimal gaps. Again, not flashy, just competent.

The Hyundai Tucson is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick Plus, thanks to good crash-test results and an available slate of crash-avoidance features.

Most trims come equipped just one way, with only a choice of color and front- or all-wheel drive. Our SE, at almost $26,000, was quite spartan and lacked a power driver seat and lumbar adjustment. Heated seats and a power tailgate were appreciated on the Sport, but at almost $29,000, it lacked a sunroof and automatic climate control.

The most appealing combination would be the Sport’s turbo with the SE’s 17-inch wheels and regular automatic transmission. It’s too bad the best version is the one Hyundai doesn’t build.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Hyundai global chief of design and company vice president Peter Schreyer has stewarded the Kia and Hyundai brands quite skillfully over the last few years. Now, he is tasked with taking Hyundai into new territory with the ambitious Genesis luxury sub-brand. How will its products be different than lesser Hyundais? We sat down with the man to get some insight.

Car and Driver: Hyundai has announced that there will be six Genesis models by 2020. How will the Hyundai and Genesis brands be different in terms of design?Peter Schreyer: I think for me the main differentiation is not how we treat the surfaces; I see it a bit more from a philosophical standpoint. The Genesis is rear-wheel drive; and all of [the Genesis models] are going to have that. And in proportion this will differentiate them completely from other Hyundais. The current Genesis [which will be renamed G80—Ed.] and the G90 will have that long-hood, front-wheels-far-forward proportion that gives them that kind of premium, classic feeling. This to me is more important than to say that it’s going to have one [badge] more on the hood or something like this. And of course we’re going to differentiate by the grille design and things like that.Also, within the Genesis brand we’re going to have more consistency than in the Hyundai brand, which can be more variable, because [with Hyundai] there are so many different segments. We make so many [market-specific] products for China, and India, and this market, and Europe. For example, the Elantra is done mainly for here and Korea, but in Europe we have the i30. We’re putting our focus on different cars for different markets. With Genesis it will be more general. The Genesis will be the same car everywhere. I think the important market for Genesis will be [the U.S.]C/D: If you could use three key words to describe Genesis design, what would they be?PS: Proportion. Proportion. Proportion. There will be a few other things. I think it’s important to be authentic in materials, but we need our own expression especially in front-end design. But the overall feeling comes from the proportion.This is something that has to crystallize out of our work. It’s very difficult to describe. Once you see several products together I think you will realize and you will see it, but to describe it at the moment is difficult.C/D: What would you LIKE to see with Genesis design?PS: I think it’s important that they not look like a me-too product. I think we need to create our own kind of atmosphere. It’s difficult to describe; we need a little time, and when we have the products we can talk about it.We have created a new department for Genesis design. So we are separating our design team a bit, but it all grows out of Hyundai, which is good. This is a Korean company and there are some interesting things in the Asian culture—art, Asian craftsmanship, architecture—and things that kind of influence us. I think it’s important that we feel a bit of that heritage also.C/D: So we will see an Asian influence?PS: Not the way you might think. Korea has a lot of history in calligraphy, and in the concentration of working in ceramics, and the way they build their houses. At the same time, Korea has a very modern and almost revolutionary youth movement. It’s the combination of all those things that make work in a Korean company very interesting. Each time I go there, I learn a lot about this culture. And it’s also something that is driving us because the Korean mentality is that they’re always asking for something new. It helps me because I’m not falling into a rhythm of creating the same thing over and over.C/D: How hands-on are you as a designer?PS: Very much. I am a designer. And to a certain extent, you cannot do it by [issuing an] order. You cannot say to someone “please do it like that.” I need to go to the models and talk to the designers; at that moment, the hierarchy is not important to me. I walk around with him or her and say, “Look at this thing that’s sticking out here. I want more this and that. Look at your sketch, and if you can see this, I want more of it.” I like to work with the guys, hands-on, not as the executive to keep them in line but to see what I think would balance the model.C/D: Will Kia have its own version of Genesis? PS: I don’t think that is necessary. I think Kia has a more compact product range. Of course, at Kia we make cars for all kinds of markets, but I still see Kia as a bit more compact and Hyundai is a big company. Hyundai is like a big pyramid, and Genesis is the top of that pyramid. It’s like a company that makes very good wine but now they’re making champagne, as well; it’s the same company and the same grapes, but it’s a different thing. The Kia pyramid is maybe a bit narrower and a bit more pointed than the Hyundai one.C/D: What will characterize Hyundai brand design moving forward?PS: Make it strong. I think Hyundai with Fluidic Sculpture has made remarkable change—it has influenced the rest of the industry, quite honestly. When it was first introduced, it was quite extreme and spectacular. And so Hyundai has its own strong will, somehow—daring and self-confident, doing its own thing. I want to continue that kind of attitude, even let it ripen more and give it more control. Put another way, when we talk about Fluidic Sculpture, we tend to talk about only the surface. But I think it needs some structure and architecture underneath, so it’s not just a free-floating, big show of lines and surfaces but it’s actually a tight suit that goes over a body.

C/D: What are the specific things between the last Elantra and the new Elantra that you wanted to change or add that we will see more of moving forward?PS: The difficulty is that the last Elantra was a very good car. But I think the new one is a bit more mature-looking. The new one is stronger and more dynamic and powerful-looking. If you look at the hood and the shape, it has a presence, a really dynamic presence. It has grown a little bit in size and volume but it still looks sporty, almost like a four-door coupe, and I think that is very cool. It’s not just a boring family-carrier.C/D: The sketch of the G90 sedan that was released recently, it looks pretty translatable to production . . . PS: If you remember the Vision G, we had a windscreen very far back and it’s very exaggerated, but this car carries the inspiration for the G90, so if you take the [Vision G] and make it a bit higher in the roof and put four doors [on it], you get pretty close to what it is. Maybe you make the wheels one size smaller. The front is pretty close. The Vision G is the messenger, with a twinkle in its eye—a preview. I hope that when we show the actual G90 that we get the show car with it so you can actually see the similarities.C/D: When will we see it?PS: In Korea, it’s going to be called the EQ900, and it’s going to be unveiled before the end of the year.Source

Friday, November 27, 2015

It would be hard to overstate the importance of design as a
component of Kia and Hyundai’s amazing Horatio Alger story, one that took it from sideshow car company for people who couldn't swing a Honda, to main act. Peter Schreyer has been a key driver of that success, particularly at Kia, which he joined as chief designer nine years ago. He created a family look for the brand, with sleek styling, and elements like the famed “tiger nose” grill. In 2012 he became the first non-Korean president of Kia, and two weeks later was promoted to president of Hyundai Motor Group, with oversight for both Kia and Hyundai design. He speaks to Marketing Daily about his role.

Q: Now that you are doing both Kia and Hyundai, how difficult is it to keep those identities separate?

A: You have to kind of move in both worlds somehow, like shifting between the left and right sides of the brain. Especially when I'm in Korea, the design centers are very close to each other; you either walk through the red door [Kia] or the blue door [Hyundai], and it just works. You're in the red world or the blue world. While we developed Kia over the years, Hyundai has gone another way with the “fluidic sculpture” [design language], which at the time, was quite daring. It created a lot of discussion and also a lot of attention to the extent that other companies started going in the same direction. And I think this is why it is important to have two different attitudes.

Q: What sort of thematic ideas do you use to keep the brands unique?

A: It’s two very different philosophies. A clearness and crispness fits very well with the way we are doing cars at Kia: a sober, clear architecture; very logical and simple surfaces, but with tension. The Hyundai brand is a little more playful. Fluidic sculpture really is a quite nice description. We have always said, from very beginning, that Kia is more like a snow crystal, very constructed, and Hyundai is more like a water drop that changes and can flow. That is a quite good comparison.

Q: General ideas for how you'd like Hyundai to evolve, from a design perspective?

A: I think that, to me, I want to combine this way of doing things, very smooth and very fluidic, but bring it back a little more so we have architecture with it, and not only for sake of shape, so you have structure underneath, the way that, under muscular body, you need a skeleton providing stature.

Q: Should designers “listen” to mass opinion expressed through channels like social media, the way marketers do?

A: Customers can only compare design to what they already know on the market, so I consider this dangerous. They don't know the other products we are working on; it is only what they see on the street. It is very tricky.Sometimes it is interesting to listen to people, and see what their feelings and expectations are. But they can't design a car. Picasso didn't give people his brush. Miles Davis didn’t give his trumpet to someone else and say, “Could you show me what you expect?” That does not work.

Q: Same question with regard to Kia or Hyundai executives, who certainly have strong opinions.

A: They sometimes understand, sometimes not. I think it is very important to have executives on your side, and not have them go “No, no, no.” It is just very important that there is a strong relationship up to the CEO, who has final responsibility.

Q: A bit like the owner of a restaurant needs to trust the chef.

A: If you are owner of a restaurant, you have a final responsibility. You need a strong bond with those people. But you need to have discussions about the menu.

South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors Corp. became the two best-sellers in Chile last month, the most recent numbers show.

According
to data from Chile’s auto association ANAC, Hyundai Motor sold 2,353
vehicles in October to top the list of best-selling brands in Chile,
closely followed by Kia with 2,306 cars.
Last year, Hyundai Motor
and Kia Motors ranked second and third with annual sales of 32,757 and
31,477 units, respectively, following the U.S. rival Chevrolet which
sold 47,054 units.

This year, Hyundai Motor topped the
list of best-selling cars in Chile in January, while Kia Motors took the
first place in June and September. However, it was the first time for
the two companies to become the two best-sellers, pushing Chevrolet to
third place in monthly sales in the Chilean market.
However, the U.S. carmaker still remains ahead of both Hyundai and Kia in accumulative sales this year.

It sold 26,935 cars in the first 10 months of the year, while Kia Motors has sold 23,190 cars and Hyundai 20,649.

With good performance in Chile, the market share of Hyundai-Kia Motors has also slightly increased from last year.

So
far, the combined market share of Hyundai and Kia in the market has
gained 0.2 percentage points, rising to 19.2 percent from 19 percent
last year.

Although the Chilean auto market is not that
big, with annual sales of 400,000 on the standard of sedans, 70 global
automakers are intensely competing in the market.

The good
result of Hyundai and Kia in the auto market is largely due to
aggressive promotion campaigns based on the effects of the Korea-Chile
free trade agreement (FTA) that was signed in 2004. With tariff
elimination from the FTA, Hyundai and Kia Motors have been able to be in
the upper ranks, holding an advantageous position compared to other
competitors.

In particular, the two companies have
maintained dominant positions in the market, though the FTA between
Japan and Chile has come into effect from 2007.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

LOS ANGELES - A downpour filled a dark room in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Thursday, as if a rainstorm were hitting hit sunny California.

However, when people spread their hands into it, the water fall paused. People could walk through the rain without getting completely soaked. “It is like the miracle of Moses,” an onlooker said.

The 230-square meter room is fitted with a 1,500-liter water tank and a camera and sensor to detect the rainfall and prevent water from dropping on viewers.

The piece, named Rain Room, is an interactive art installation by noted artists’ group Random International, and will go on display until March 6, 2015. “Rain Room is a remarkable work of art, whose creative courage and extraordinary concept have captivated audiences around the world,” said Gary Friedman, chairman and CEO of Random International, a collaborative studio for experimental practice within contemporary art.

The Rain Room is the first installment of “The Hyundai Project: Art and Technology,” a long-term partnership between Hyundai Motor’s and the global art circle. This includes 10-year ties with the LACMA sealed in March, as well as another 11-year deal with the Tate Modern in the U.K.

Hyundai believes its Mecenat activities will also support the company’s vision to join the ranks of global luxury carmakers with the launch of its premium brand, Genesis.

“Through the partnership with the LACMA, we want to show that cars are more than transportation tools. They are means to a cultural lifestyle, a space to share valuable time with your families and life partners that can show off people’s values in life. The Rain Room is also a good opportunity for us to explore the marriage of art and technology,” a company spokesman stated.

Apart from the Rain Room, Hyundai has also sponsored the museum’s purchase of “Miracle Mile” by Robert Irwin and “Light Reignfall” by James Turrell. An exhibition of the prominent visual artist Diana Thater, “Diana Thater: The Sympathetic Imagination,” will also be held at the museum from Nov. 22-Feb. 21, 2016.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

LOS ANGELES – Like it already has been doing with the Equus large luxury sedan, Hyundai will be selective about which of its 834 U.S. dealers will carry the six new models under the forthcoming Genesis luxury brand.

“As we bring all this new product out, it will not go to all dealers,” Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America CEO, tells WardsAuto following Hyundai’s press conference at the auto show here.

Hyundai earlier this month announced the establishment of the Genesis premium brand, launching next year with the next-generation Equus, which is being renamed G90. The brand is slated for five more models beyond that, including three in segments new to Hyundai.

Right now only 411 of the 834 U.S. Hyundai dealers carry the Equus sedan, and in the future dealers wishing to carry the Genesis brand will have to meet similar standards as those currently selling Equus do.

That includes more intense training for staff, additional investment to provide a “showroom-within-a-showroom” visual separation for the brand and valet- and concierge-service capability.
However, there’s no word whether those now selling the Equus automatically qualify to carry the new Genesis lineup, or whether further requirements will have to be met.

No doubt quelling Hyundai dealer fears, Zuchowski says the automaker will not force those who want to carry the Genesis brand to build separate showrooms.

“We think the channel itself will evolve organically,” he says. “We don’t see us forcing dealers (to build) separate facilities. We want the products to come out, the products to be well-received, the products to generate good volume, good margin, and the dealers to come to us and say, ‘Boy, I think I’ve got so much potential here I don’t think I can manage all these nameplates on one showroom. I’d like to expand.’”

Contrary to some earlier reports, Zuchowski says all the Genesis-brand utility vehicles will be car-based, with no body-on-frame model planned.

And while the luxury sector is seeing success with smaller vehicles, Hyundai right now has no plan, or won’t discuss it if it does, for a compact luxury car or CUV.

“We do have in our plans more of an entry-level sedan coming, that would be BMW 3-Series-type size, and maybe derivatives off of that with crossovers and stuff, (so) it’s not all larger vehicles,” the U.S. CEO says.

The 3-Series is considered a midsize sedan, while the 1-Series is BMW’s compact car.
Zuchowski uses the press conference for the redesigned ’16 Elantra compact sedan to say all Genesis-brand models will have dedicated platforms and powertrains.

However, he also is quick to point out the automaker will not ignore its bread-and-butter Hyundai brand, saying it must “focus on and protect” its core consumers.

The ’16 Elantra is one of 10 new or refreshed Hyundais planned to roll out over the next 36 months in the U.S.

Further details of the new Genesis brand will be provided at January’s 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Hyundai has revealed the latest redesign of its Alabama-made Elantra compact sedan, a key model for the Korean automaker. The new Elantra, which was unveiled Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show, features a slate of upgrades from the current model. This marks the sixth generation for the Elantra, which is Hyundai's best-selling model worldwide. Over the past 25 years, the company has sold more than 10 million Elantras around the globe, including more than 2 million in the U.S.
The Elantra is "an important pillar" for the Hyundai brand, Peter Schreyer, president and chief design officer for Hyundai Motor Group, said during the car's debut at the auto show. "For 25 years already, the Elantra has been a key measure of our progress," he said. "As our biggest success worldwide, Elantra is truly the heart of the Hyundai brand." The new Elantra is longer and wider than the current model, for an overall sportier character, Schreyer said.

On the outside, it features a hexagonal grille, slimmer headlights and vertical LED daytime running lights, while the inside is roomier with more premium touches.

Under the hood, there's a new standard four-cylinder engine that delivers up to 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The city/highway fuel economy is expected at 29/38 miles per gallon, Hyundai says. There's also a turbocharged engine option.

The updated car is also lighter than the current Elantra, and its frame is 53 percent advanced high-strength steel, more than double what it is now. Hyundai's Montgomery factory began building the Elantra five years ago, with the launch of the previous generation.

The plant also produces the Sonata midsize sedan, another top seller for Hyundai. Alabama workers are expected to launch mass production of the new Elantra in mid-December, said Robert Burns, a company spokesman in Montgomery. Hyundai also produces the Elantra in Korea. It will go on sale early next year. Pricing has not been announced.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Hyundai Motor
India Limited, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Korean auto major
Hyundai, has become the second company in India after Maruti Suzuki to
roll out 4 millionth car. Hyundai also happens to be the second-largest
player in the Indian passenger vehicle (cars, utility vehicles and vans)
market.

Hyundai, which started the Indian operations in 1996,
has achieved this feat in 19 years. Rival Maruti Suzuki, which was set
up in 1983, took two decades to touch this number of 4 millionth
vehicle. Obviously, the long time taken to reach the milestone of 4
million cars is because the market was small in the first decade of the
21st century.

Indian companies now sell 2.6 million
passenger vehicles in a year (FY15) against 1.1 million units in FY05.
Maruti, the largest player, alone sells about 1.17 million units (FY15)
while Hyundai sold 420,668 units in the same year.

Interestingly, the maximum contribution to Hyundai’s sales came from
Santro, a model that was discontinued in January this year. Of the 4
million units, 65 per cent came from the Santro, a model the company
launched in 1998. Of the existing models, the largest contributor is
from i10 (800,000 units), Grandi10 (250,000 units) and i20-Elite and
Active (150,000 units).

Rakesh Srivastava, senior
vice-president and division head (sales and marketing) at Hyundai said
the company is identifying white spaces that will be critical for its
future sales growth in the domestic market. But a third plant will be
critical to the company’s future growth.

The company currently
operates two plants in Chennai with a total capacity of 680,000
vehicles. Hyundai also happens to be the largest exporter of passenger
vehicle from India. It shipped 191,221 units last year with a 31 per
cent market share in exports from India.

The company has
achieved sales growth of 16 per cent in the April-October period of the
current year. It has also been able to increase its market share from
16.17 per cent in FY15 to 17.44 per cent in the April-October period
this year on back strong growth in models like Creta and Elitei20.

Last October, the company consciously decided to scale down exports to
meet the growing domestic demand. Its export declined 18 per cent last
year and is further down by over 12 per cent in the April-October period
of the current year.

Korea Times reports that Hyundai will launch a new brand tentatively called AE — which may stand for “alternative energy.” The new brand will debut in January 2016 and will focus on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fully electric cars, and even a fuel cell vehicle. “The first model of Hyundai’s new green car brand will be a hybrid, followed by plug-in hybrid and battery electric editions, aiming to become the world’s first green car with HEV, PHEV and EV types,” the newspaper said. “Such models are part of our vision, suggesting having 22 green cars in our lineup by 2020,” a Hyundai Motor spokesman says.

Hyundai believes that its new hybrid will outperform the Toyota Prius. The five-door hatchback will be equipped with a 1.6-liter Kappa gasoline direct injection engine, an electric motor, and a transmission tailored for hybrid operation. The internal combustion engine boasts 156 horsepower. Total power, with a 9.8 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery and a 50-kilowatt electric motor, is 205 horsepower. Sister company Kia is also about to introduce its own Prius fighter, the DE sedan.

Hyundai Motor Group vice chairman Chung Eui-sun said earlier this year that plug-in hybrids are the answer to the future survival of the company and the industry. The company is expected to offer a plug-in hybrid version of its popular Sonata sedan sometime in 2016. Prototypes began testing in September and have received positive reviews for their performance in both EV and hybrid modes.

Earlier this year, Hyundai and Kia announced they would be bringing eight new alternative fueled vehicles to market between 2016 and 2018, including four hybrids, two plug-in hybrids, one battery electric vehicle, and one fuel cell vehicle. “Of course it would be more eco-friendly if we could have the full electric vehicles because they emit no greenhouse gas at all. But given the situation that EVs are pricier and generally cannot run a long distance on a single charge, PHEVs are considered the optimal product in the Korean market at the moment,” an industry observers told Korea Times.
Hyundai and Kia seem committed to covering all the bases as the automotive market transitions to lower emissions and zero-emissions vehicles.

Monday, November 23, 2015

The brand's Rockar
shopping centre store is a great new way to buy a car, and other car
makers should follow suit, says Steve Fowler

For the past year, Hyundai’s
Rockar store in the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent – and its
accompanying website – has been transforming the way people buy cars.
I’m a fan – as I’ve said before, it’s about selling cars where people
are, not where they’re not!

Has it worked? Seems so – we
can exclusively reveal that Hyundai is opening a second Rockar store
next month, this time in the Westfield shopping centre in Stratford,
East London.

I know that plenty of other manufacturers
have been watching closely to see how buyers react to the store and its
no-pressure approach from ‘angels’ rather than sales people. Or whether
they still prefer to go to the more traditional dealer.

So
here are some of the stats that might help persuade them it’s a good
idea: while Hyundai won’t reveal numbers, Rockar is in the Top 10 of its
dealers for cars sold. 163,000 people have been into the store in the
past year. The average age of buyers is 39 – Hyundai’s average at other
dealers is 56 (and the industry average is 52). Women account for 54 per
cent of Rockar customers – roughly double what it is elsewhere. And
half of Rockar’s customers transact online after visiting the store in
person.
Hyundai UK’s President and CEO Tony Whitehorn assured me
his other dealers are happy about it, too. “They’ve had people buy from
them who’ve been into Rockar,” he told me.

And it’s not
quite the end of the traditional dealer, either. “The Internet is
becoming a vehicle for transacting as well as information, but for us
it’s about clicks and bricks – many people still want to go into
dealers,” said Whitehorn.

Of course, he has a large dealer network to keep happy, but Hyundai has
taken the brave pill and it seems to be working for it. I’ve been there
and it’s a great new way to buy a car. Other makers should (and will)
follow suit.

Do you think other car makers should do the same? Let us know below...

Korean automaker Hyundai on Wednesday revealed a redesigned version of its Elantra compact sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show, removing some of the previous generation's distinctive edging as designers transition Hyundai deeper into mainstream styling.
The new Elantra gets Hyundai's hexagonal grille and front-wheel air curtains borrowed from the Sonata Hybrid to improve air flow and thus increase fuel efficiency.

The vehicle's reveal comes as the brand is gradually overhauling its design ethos, moving away from the edgy thematic that characterized past models and maneuvering squarely into the mainstream market. For example, designers ditched the lumpy headlights that defined the previous-generation Elantra in favor of something more mainstream.

The 2017 Elantra, which hits dealerships in January, will face an immediate challenge: gaining attention from consumers who are abandoning cramped cars for roomy crossovers.

In a 3,000-word press release trumpeting the Elantra's introduction, Hyundai spilled plenty of ink on the interior space and cargo volume of the Elantra, bragging that it has more of each than the luxury Audi A4 and Acura ILX.

To get some additional wiggle room, Hyundai engineers lengthened the vehicle by 0.8 inches and widened it by 1 inch — a not-insignificant play in the auto business. Still, the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Mazda3 — three compact sedans that buyers are more likely to cross-shop — all have more space for passengers.

But Hyundai is hoping to capitalize on significant gains in quality in recent years. The brand ranked fourth overall in the 2015 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study, behind only Porsche, sister brand Kia and Jaguar.

"The new Elantra projects confidence with sculpted body forms complimented by smoothly contoured lines that reveal the underlying inspiration of Hyundai designers," Hyundai said in a statement. "Inspired by the concept of dynamic precision, Elantra’s architecture was a perfect platform for collaboration between Hyundai designers and engineers to blend advanced styling with functional aerodynamics."

The new Elantra's arrival comes as small cars are struggling despite a flourishing U.S. market for auto sales.
Although the vehicle's sales are up 10.9% through the first 10 months of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014, sales are flat compared to the same period in 2013.

Bolstered by more high-strength steel, the 2017 Elantra is stiffer and quieter, Hyundai said.

The standard powertrain is a 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine with up to 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, mated with a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic. That model gets 38 miles per gallon on the highway and 28 mpg in the city for a combined rating of 33 mpg.

An optional 1.4-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine dubbed Elantra Eco is also available, paired with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission that collective delivers 128 horsepower, 156 pound-feet of torque and a fuel economy rating of 35 mpg.
The car will be assembled in Hyundai plants in Montgomery, Ala., and Ulsan, South Korea.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

In
the wake of the Volkswagen diesel scandal, automakers are taking a
stand to prove that eco-friendly vehicles are still trustworthy and
growing strong.

Hyundai is
leading the charge with plans for a Prius-fighting hybrid. A leaked
rumor hinted previously that the first -Prius-like hybrid sedan from the
Korean automaker would be named the Ioniq–taking the moniker of the
concept model shown at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show. However, it might have
a different name.

In the wake of its Genesis luxury
brand and N Performance division, Hyundai might be unveiling another
sub-brand for its line of dedicated hybrid and electric vehicles.
According to The Korea Herald, this first plug-in hybrid will
be part of the AE line from Hyundai. The AE label reinforces Hyundai’s
plan to broaden its reputation through different branding segments.

Hyundai
will launch the AE–the project’s current tentative name–line with a
dedicated hybrid sedan being unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in
January. The model will then go on sale within a year after the 2016
Prius’ release. The first AE sedan will include a hybrid, plug-in, and
battery-electric variants.

Rumor is that Hyundai is
confident this new Project AE car will outperform the 2016 Prius’ claim
of 55 mpg. As reported previously, the model will possess a 1.6-liter
four-cylinder engine with a compact lithium ion polymer battery, based
on the underpinnings of the next-gen Elantra.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, California -- For quite a long time, Hyundai cars have been perceived as decently-priced high-quality vehicles in the U.S. But many things are about to change now as the company is gearing up to launch its premium brand Genesis in the world’s largest upscale automobile market.

"We will present the first flagship sedan Genesis G90 (to be released as EQ900 in Korea) at the Detroit Motor Show in January. The market is quite robust and we are poised for very strong growth, what we think is the ‘tipping point,’” said David Zuchowski, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, at the HMA headquarters in California on Monday. The G90 will be out in the U.S. market in late 2016.

After the surprise launch of Genesis on Nov. 4 and the unveiling of the first model G90 the following week in Korea, the U.S. subsidiary -- which recently crossed the milestone of 10 million unit-sales of Hyundai cars since 1986 -- has been busy figuring out the pros and cons of introducing Genesis as an individual brand.

Initially introduced as an upscale model in 2008, Genesis has become the symbol of what Korean car makers can do through a luxury slogan. More than 20,000 units have been sold between January and October in the U.S., some 38.2 percent up from the same period last year.

However, readjusting Genesis as a separate luxury brand could be considered risky for the world’s fifth-largest car maker with a strong foothold in the compact and mid-sized sedan segment. The former Genesis competed with mid-luxury sedans such as Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-class and BMW 5-series, but the new one aims to go head-on with Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7-series, the highest end of mass luxury cars.

However, it is also imperative to get the U.S. market’s approval for the Genesis to be reborn as a global luxury brand -- more than 2 million luxury cars were sold in 2014 in the U.S., outnumbering China’s 1.8 million. Global automotive consulting group IHS expects the U.S. to have more than 10.6 million luxury cars by 2020, about 1.8 times the current size of 5.7 million.

“We continue to conduct surveys on whether Americans are ready to embrace Genesis as an individual luxury brand (like Toyota did with Lexus). About 98 percent of the surveyed Genesis drivers said they are very satisfied with the car and we have quite positive project for the future,” said Harry Han, chief executive coordinator at HMA.

The management admitted that enhancing the brand position from mid-to-luxury to premium would take time.

"I give it five years to refine the dealers’ network -- we will take some of the shop-in-shops for (another Hyundai luxury model) Equus -- and come up with a variety of lineups to meet the market demand,” Zuchowski said.

The customers who already have the Genesis cars -- launched in 2008 and 2013 -- will also be able to benefit from a variety of as yet undecided perks and services given to new Genesis buyers. “We will not forget those who love Genesis,” Han said.

HMA expects the Genesis as well as the new Elantra (American name for Korea’s Avante) to lead the vehicle sales that have been rather stagnant for the past several years.

Over the next few years, Hyundai and Kia plan to launch a slew of new green models as part of a bid to take the number-two slot (behind hybrid powerhouse Toyota, presumably) in green-car sales.
One high-profile addition to the lineup will be a dedicated hybrid model for Hyundai designed to compete against the Toyota Prius. Like the Prius, it won’t be based on any existing model, although a new report claims it could borrow a name from a 2012 Hyundai concept car.

Hyundai Ioniq will be the name of the Prius-fighting hybrid according to AutoGuide, which claims to have discussed the matter with sources aware of Hyundai’s product plans. It also reports that Hyundai registered the name with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on June 5 of this year, and also applied to trademark the name with agencies in Europe, Malta, the U.K., and Canada in July. It reportedly applied for a trademark of the Ioniq name with the World Intellectual Property Organization at that time as well.

The name seems to come from a 2012 concept car called the i-Oniq. This was an extended-range electric car that used a 107-horsepower electric motor for propulsion, with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine acting as a generator. The i-Oniq was a small hatchback, so it’s at least in the same ballpark as the production hybrid, styling-wise. The hybrid is expected to be a five-door hatchback with aerodynamic styling, similar to its Prius rival.

The dedicated hybrid is just one of many new models that will appear over the next few years as Hyundai looks to expand its green-car lineup. The Korean carmaker will launch an all-electric model as well, and continue to sell hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Sonata midsize sedan, and a fuel-cell version of the Tucson crossover (in California, at least).

Meanwhile, companion brand Kia will get its own version of the Prius-fighter hybrid, and an Optima plug-in hybrid that uses the same powertrain as the Sonata. It will also continue to sell its Optima Hybrid (which may get some updates as well), and the Soul EV electric car.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Kia is
playing catch-up on autonomous driving technology, with plans to
eventually reach SAE Level 2-4 automation and to complete a dedicated Hyundai-Kia
autonomous proving ground in California next year. On the way to its
goal of full autonomy by 2030, the Korean automaker will spend $2
billion by 2018 for the first of its Advanced Driver Assistance System
(ADAS) technologies as part of parent Hyundai Motor Group’s effort.

The
initial technology available by 2016 will include drive assist, park
assist and active safety features. Also in 2016, Hyundai-Kia will open
an autonomous driving proving ground in California City, as part of its
10-year-old U.S. proving ground near Mojave, California.

It was a nice occasion, totally unexpected: a chance to see a new concept car before any public presentation. The invitation was especially attractive since the car was coming from Hyundai, a firm with two top designers in charge, Peter Schreyer overall and Chris Chapman heading the California studio. Even so, my initial reaction to the car was, "How could this happen?"

Reflecting later, I know how: Someone unqualified got between the creators and the car. The best designers in the world can't save a project if an executive with more influence than design sense is somewhere in the decision tree, imposing his uninformed will as a sign of power. I know of a European project where the design's graceless rear was imposed by the chief executive, the awkward front by his successor. The result: essentially unsalable. I suspect something of the sort happened to the Hyundai Vision G.

That there should be a rear-drive coupe equivalent of the V-8 Genesis sedanis obvious, and there is surely a market for a car costing thousands less than roughly equivalent German-name coupes. But I wonder if the Vision G would sell well without a substantial styling cleanup. It has far too many lines, too many odd surface changes, and the derivative grille is too coarse. The glazing is also disproportionately small for such a big, bulky exterior, but that's the style these days, so someone must like it.

Still, I found the interior design really pleasant because of its simplicity and clarity. Colors, materials, and detailing were all superior. The quantity of knobs and buttons and switches was minimized, and if there was no particular excitement about the cabin, there was the strong sense it would be a good place to be on a long trip.

Others present at the unveiling of this car at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (where Hyundai is a longtime sponsor) before its appearance on the concept lawn at Pebble Beach were nonplussed by something else. It seemed too small to so polarize Southern California's automotive journalists, people more exposed to automotive novelty than any group in the world. But about half freaked out over the location of the door handles.

They're on the body rather than the door panel itself. That seems very intelligent, as you normally stand outside the opening arc of the door and pull the door itself toward you, so it's between you and the opening. Unfortunately, you would go farther out in the street to go around the door and enter the car. That's not a pleasant prospect in heavy traffic. This door is powered open, like some SUV hatches, so you stand behind it then walk forward to enter, not getting any farther into traffic than the door itself. If manufacturers use a wireless network within a car to operate various functions (which I think will happen soon), the door latch and the handle need not connect in any way, not even by wire. To eliminate yards and pounds of a wiring harness would be a great progress. So the odd detail that caused the most negative commentary may well be the single most important feature of this Hyundai.

1. The grille: too big, too Bentley, so too bad. But the perimeter is actually rather nice and integrates with the headlamps better than most grilles do. So apart from the texture, give it a pass.

2.This badge, too, is reminiscent of a certain Cricklewood insignia. Isn't there some graphically resplendent Korean letter or sign that could proudly stand for Hyundai?

3. These lines defining a bulge on the hood are once again evocative of past British practice, this time by Jaguar.

4. This near-vertical wall fades before it reaches the grille rim (forward) or the A-pillar (aft).

5. A pair of confused and confusing lines, with the one on top of the front fender ending just below where one created by an undercut coming off the rear fender fades to nothing.

6. The windshield seems rather small for a big coupe. The lack of anything but a black band defining and separating it from painted surfaces seems a little cheap.

7. The roof profile is more sedanlike than the form that usually describes a true coupe. It does, however, allow really good rear headroom.

8. The flat band around the circular rear wheel opening terminates a bulge that comes from the rear fender profile imposed on the body side and stops at the rear door cut.

9. The defining feature for the naysayers and those not too deeply conservative in their design sense. Yes, I like it and hope to see it again on many cars.

10. The shadow created by the fairly tight radius in the metal above the undercut that starts at the forward peak of the taillight makes for a really nice spear shape on the body side, achieved without appliqué trim.

11. Similar brightwork elements frame the round wheel opening in a soft-topped parallelogram that appears created by the hockey-stick sill trim piece.

12. It's perhaps a bit convoluted, but the bumper brightwork is a rather nice graphic element on the dead-on front end.

13. Four longitudinal ribs in the roof define the CHMSL bump and inset the roof from the body sides before fading into the decklid.

14. A very odd joggle in the skin above the taillight seems more mistake than feature.

15. The back light seems unreasonably small for a fairly big car like this and provides only very poor rearward visibility. A bump-up in the upper profile accommodates the CHMSL.

16. This soggy line from taillight to taillight is hard to understand. It might decrease the liftover height for the trunk, but it clashes with other curves above it.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

If you were asked to pick a distinguishing feature of the 2015 Hyundai Tucson, you might choose its reliability. After all, Hyundai surprised the industry with the vehicle by topping the recent J.D. Power study of initial quality.

Or,
you might mention the vehicle’s good value relative to its peers. But
the second-generation crossover’s generically Asian appearance, didn’t
endow the Tucson with much of an image or reflect its true quality.

That
changes with the third-generation Tucson, the 2016, which wears the
crisp, conservative clothes of its larger siblings, the Santa Fe Sport
and Santa Fe.

All three now share similar design cues, with bold grilles up front, bookended by projector-beam headlamps or optional LEDs.

The
sculpted side panels feature smaller glass openings and crisp lines
that surge up as they sweep back across the body. In the rear, LED tail
lamps and chrome exhaust tips complete the look.

The
Tucson’s new presence is helped by its more generous dimensions. The
2016 model is 3 inches longer, 1.1 inches wider and rides atop a
1.2-inch longer wheelbase. This pays dividends inside, with greater
passenger space and more cargo room. In fact, there’s a generous 31
cubic feet of cargo room, an increase of more than 5 cubic feet compared
to the 2015 model.

Farther forward in the cabin, you will
appreciate the vehicle’s feeling of spaciousness, but it’s the upgraded
craftsmanship that impresses most. Touch points such as the steering
wheel and shifter are covered in leather. All seats can be heated, while
front seats can be cooled as well.

Infotainment is
handled through an 8-inch touchscreen; base models get a 5-inch screen.
Navigation, Pandora and Apple Siri Eyes Free are optional.

The new Hyundai Tucson’s
turbo engine is sufficiently powerful, with plenty on tap for a quick
burst of acceleration. The new dual-clutch transmission is smooth and
responsive.

Steering is quick and nicely weighted. The
all-wheel-drive system uses torque vectoring to enhance handling as well
as to ensure good traction. Body lean is well-controlled in corners,
and bump absorption is firm yet forgiving. The ride is remarkably quiet.

Bahrain: A car show was held by First Motors which included test drives for Hyundai cars.

The Centennial and Genesis models
were on display at the Bahrain Royal Golf Club, where guests were
briefed on the main features of the cars and offered the chance to test
drive along a planned route.

“It is
with great pleasure that we are hosting this kind of an event where
guests can experience first-hand the elegance and class that the Hyundai
Centennial and Genesis offer,” said a First Motors spokesman.

“With a chance to test drive these vehicles, one can be fully assured of their performance and versatility.”

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Trying to navigate your car's engine just got easier (if you have a Hyundai Sonata, anyway). The company revealed an augmented-reality owners manual.Finding your way around one of these isn't easy.

And a hard-to-navigate manual doesn't make it any easier. Hyundai wants to make understanding your car a little less challenging. “While Hyundai is not quite ready to ditch the owners manual, this is a glimpse of things to come,” said the narrator in a Hyundai advertisement.

So it's launching Hyundai Virtual Guide, an augmented reality app and owners manual. The app packs in 82 how-to vids, six augmented-reality overlays and 50 informational guides. Using your phone or tablet's camera, the guide can show you augmented info about your air filter, clock, engine oil, fuse box and more. It currently only works for the 2015 Sonata, but more models will be supported in the future.

Hyundai engineers will consider structural changes to the recently released Tucson SUV after an embarrassing four-star result in local ANCAP crash testing.

The company was shocked by the unexpected result, which came after the car was awarded the maximum five-star score in European NCAP testing. The European car was left-hand-drive, while the local car was right-hand-drive.

The four-star result effectively means Hyundai has gone backwards in the five years since the Tucson's predecessor, the ix35, was tested.

In a 2010 test, the ix35 scored 15.15 out of 16 points in the frontal offset crash, while the Tucson managed only 11.46, with testing showing that the structural integrity of the driver footwell was compromised. There was also excessive movement of the brake pedal.

Despite the negative publicity, the South Korean maker has resisted the temptation to fire back at ANCAP and has sent engineers to Australia to study the findings in detail.

Hyundai Motor Company Australia fully supports the work ANCAP does

"Hyundai Motor Company engineers are currently examining the data from the ANCAP 64km/h frontal test in order to determine what changes may be necessary to achieve a five-star score," the company says.

"Hyundai Motor Company Australia fully supports the work ANCAP does to improve the safety of motor vehicles on Australian roads," it says.

The company is promising any necessary changes to make the grade, just as Kia upgraded its Carnival people mover after a four-star ANCAP score.

"Hyundai's intention is to re-test the Tucson with ANCAP as soon as possible," says company spokesman, Bill Thomas. "While the Tucson performed well overall, and is inherently strong and safe, it is not the maximum five-star result the vehicle was designed to achieve."

The result is disappointing and unexpected

ANCAP says most new cars now easily clear the bar for a five-star rating.
"The result is disappointing and unexpected for a new vehicle in this competitive class," says the new chief executive, James Goodwin.

But Goodwin acknowledges that Hyundai has reacted positively to the setback. "It is encouraging ... that Hyundai has taken immediate steps following the test to make design and production changes to improve the safety of the model".

ANCAP has agreed to test the vehicle once the design changes are in production and it's hoped the countermeasures will improve the vehicle's overall rating," he says.

The Tucson is not alone in getting a four-star result this year. The Audi TT, Kia Carnival, Mini Cooper, BMW 2 Series and Suzuki Celerio all failed to get the maximum rating.

The Tucson is an SUV favorite that was totally updated for 2015 to challenge the class-leading Mazda CX-5. It even grew slightly to qualify as a mid-sized SUV. The crash rating applies to the 2.0-litre petrol two-wheel-drive variants.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Hyundai, like many other auto companies, is working to have a driver-less car on the market by 2020, and the company released a video over the weekend that shows the amazing potential of autonomous vehicles.
The video chronicles the story of a young, blind boy in Korea who loves cars and plays with toy versions of them in his home.
But, unfortunately, his blindness prevents him from having a true driving experience. As the video shows, the boy is unable to participate in go karts with other kids his age.

So the child's parents meet with Hyundai engineers, who seat the boy in a miniature version of a Hyundai Sonata. The boy presses the engine button and the car takes him around a race track. It shows the car's ability to turn around corners and stop at a red lights without any driver intervention.

The car also gives verbal instructions while stopping or when an obstacle is in the vicinity. When the car approaches a yellow barrier, it swerves around it with plenty of time.
The video ends by showing how Hyundai cars use sensors to detect curves in the road or objects they must navigate around.

It's a unique way to show how autonomous driving technology will become advanced enough that, eventually, drivers won't need to be present when a vehicle is operating.

It's a model we are already starting to see in some corners of the world. Citymobil2 —a pilot program for automated transportation systems funded by the European Union — has installed electric, driverless shuttles in several countries that are transporting passengers on public roads without any driver present.

Here's the video. It's in Korean, but you don't really need to speak the language to understand what it's trying to convey.

If
you're a bit overwhelmed at the length of today's modern owner's
manual, which can stretch longer than a "Harry Potter" novel, you're not
alone. Heck, even automakers are realizing that it's not terribly
efficient. Hyundai's
devised a solution that incorporates augmented-reality technology, and
the result requires nothing more than a smartphone or tablet.
Hyundai
Virtual Guide, available later this year on Google Play and Apple's App
Store, whittles hundreds of pages of information into an app that
recognizes dozens of your vehicle's features. So long as your vehicle is
a 2015 Hyundai Sonata, that is -- additional models will be made compatible with the app following its launch.
This
info-dense application includes 82 different how-to videos, covering
everything from oil changes to air filter replacements to Bluetooth
phone pairing. There are 50 or so additional informational guides that
can help you get the most of your car without having to thumb through a
paper index that spans 100 pages on its own.
Augmented reality
comes into play by way of six 3D images built into Hyundai Virtual
Guide. After scanning an area of the vehicle, like the engine bay or the
dashboard, the app will point out different parts and offer up any
relevant information. If you scan your engine and click on "Engine Oil,"
it'll start by showing you how to look at the dipstick to measure the
oil level. Pretty clever.
To figure out which components were
worthy of inclusion, Hyundai polled buyers on the most difficult
features to figure out. Considering an ever-growing segment of the
population is constantly staring at one type of screen or another, this
is one of the best ways to supply information to new buyers.
This
isn't Hyundai's first foray into expanding the owner's manual outside
the bounds of paper. The automaker included an iPad loaded with a
digital manual on its Equus flagship luxury sedan. It also has an app
that will display the owner's manual inside the vehicle on the
infotainment system's touchscreen.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Hyundai, which sat out last season's Super Bowl telecast, is coming back to the game in a big way.
The
automaker will run two in-game advertising spots and another ad in the
so-called pre-kick pod, right before the Feb. 7 game starts.
The Super Bowl advertising plans come as the automaker finishes the first year of its new NFL sponsorship.
"It's
fitting that our most strategic Super Bowl marketing program ever at
Hyundai is happening during Super Bowl 50 and what is anticipated to be
the most-watched TV event of all time," Hyundai Motor America Chief
Marketing Officer Dean Evans said in a statement.
Hyundai had run Super Bowl spots for seven straight years before sitting out the 2015 game.
For Super Bowl 50, the automaker will run 30-second spots in the first and second quarter.
The
pre-kick spot is a 60 second ad, while another 60-second spot will run
during the pre-game show on CBS. Innocean Worldwide, Hyundai's
advertising agency, is creating all four of the ads.
Thirty-second ads for the telecast are fetching between $4.6 million and a little north of $5 million, Ad Age recently reported.
Hyundai
is also planning "a strong digital media presence, experiential
activations in the San Francisco Bay Area and more than 400 Hyundai
vehicles serving as promotional cars throughout Super Bowl week," the
company said.
Hyundai is the second automaker to confirm plans for an ad during the Super Bowl broadcast, following Kia, which is returning to the game for the seventh straight year.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

While we don't yet know the model name, we do know Hyundai is expected to launch its first dedicated hybrid vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show in January. That car--codenamed 'AE' for now--will go on sale within a year of the fourth-generation Toyota Prius, the car that has defined hybrid efficiency for more than a decade. And in its domestic market, Hyundai appears very confident of the car's likely fuel efficiency ratings.
According to an article in the The Korea Herald (via ChargedEVs), the 'AE' hybrid will "outperform" its global competitor, the Toyota Prius--implying that it will beat the 55-mpg combined fuel economy expected for the new 2016 Prius.
The claim was not directly attributed, and the bulk of the article deals with a suggestion earlier this year by Hyundai chairman Chung Eui-sun that plug-in hybrid vehicles will be "the answer to the future survival of the company and the industry."
The subcompact 'AE' will be the world's first vehicle model with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric variants.
(Honda is planning to take the same approach with its upcoming Clarity mid-size sedan, which will be launched with a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain but eventually spawn both a plug-in hybrid and a battery-electric variant.)
The 'AE' uses some under-structure from the next generation of Hyundai's Elantra model, but has its own dedicated design and body.
It will be fitted with a 1.6-liter Kappa direct-injected gasoline engine, a single electric motor, and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Remove the electric motor, and it's the same powertrain used in 'Eco' models of the current Sonata sedan and new Tucson crossover.
The single-motor Hyundai hybrid system represents a different approach than the longstanding Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive, which uses a pair of motors that act as an electric version of a continuously variable transmission (or eCVT).
Using two motors (as Ford, GM, and Honda also do) allows one motor to provide torque to the drive wheels while the other acts as a generator, recharging the battery from either excess engine power or regenerative braking.
The Hyundai single-motor system (also used by its sister company Kia) can power the car or recharge the battery--but not both at the same time.
Hyundai has maintained that its earlier generations of hybrids--used in the Sonata and Kia Optima mid-size sedans--provide a more natural driving experience, complete with transmission shifting, than does the Toyota system.
It's at least possible that the third-generation hybrid system to be used in the 'AE' (and its plug-in hybrid sibling) will be able to match or beat the fuel-efficiency ratings of the base 2016 Toyota Prius.
It's worth keeping in mind, however, that the Hyundai hybrid is expected to be a subcompact--two car classes down from the Prius, which is defined as a mid-size car by the EPA.
Either way, both vehicles seem likely to face more of an uphill sales battle in an era of $2-per-gallon gas prices than they did when gasoline was higher and more volatile.
Green Car Reports will bring you all the latest news on fuel-efficient and plug-in vehicles from the Detroit Auto Show when it kicks off in January.